Vietnam, Laos enhance ethnic work

Hanoi (VNA) – Chairman of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Saysomphone Phomvihane asked for facilitating high-level visits to share experience in ethnic work during a working session with the National Assembly’s Committee for Ethnic Affairs in Hanoi on August 30.

He said the Lao Party and government always pay attention to ethnic affairs and policies by holding awareness campaigns to prevent acts of sabotage that hamper national construction and defence.

Speaking highly of bilateral ethnic cooperation over the past years, Phomvihane suggested opening more training courses for Lao officials in the field.

Minister-Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Affairs Do Van Chien, for his part, briefed his guest on Vietnam’s ethnic work system from the grassroots to central level.

The Vietnamese Party, State and government always strive for socio-economic progress in ethnic minority areas via a number of policies and programmes, which, he said, target infrastructure upgrade, socio-economic development in extremely disadvantaged communes with a focus on ethnic minorities, as well as education-training and health care.

About joint work between the two committees, Chien vowed to continue training Lao officials responsible for ethnic affairs and building a computer system for the Lao side.

He expressed his belief that both sides will continue fostering the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.-VNA